Monthly Archives: April 2017

It is possible to plan a wedding on a budget. (Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise!) Before you dismiss the idea of a beautiful wedding on a less-than-stellar budget, use these tips to plan the perfect wedding in a wedding venue you can be proud of.

Choose a venue that doesn’t need a lot of décor.

If you want to keep your wedding décor costs down, look for a wedding venue that makes a statement even when empty. This keeps your wedding décor costs low, allowing you to prioritize your funds for other areas you care about, such as your dress, food, etc.

There are certain times of the year that are considered off-season for weddings, such as January, March, and November. To the contrary, June and October are considered busy times. If you’re flexible on wedding dates or haven’t chosen a date at all, let your budget lead you to the perfect day to get married (this tips can help you choose the perfect wedding date as well). You’ll get the perfect venue on the perfect day without busting the bank.

It’s natural to see the pictures of a beautiful wedding venue and assume that there is no way that could fit in your wedding budget. Don’t assume anything until you’ve contacted the wedding venue. You never know if that wedding venue fits your budget—or if the cost of an off-season, non-Saturday wedding could be the right number for your wedding budget.

It’s a logical connection: more guests, more cost. Use these tips to get to the perfect guest list, but keep your budget in mind. Estimate what the cost per guest is (approximately), and pare down your list to the right number that fits with your calculations. Some vendors may have a minimum cost or number of guests required, so be sure to ask before you count on a vendor that doesn’t fall within your budget.

It’s a common misconception: if you hold your wedding venue at a bare bones wedding venue with a cheap venue fee, your overall wedding costs are going to be kept down. Instead, the opposite is often true: by the time you hire a bartender, fill the hall with décor to make it beautiful, and hire or buy anything else that’s not included, you’ve spent far more than you would spend at a wedding venue with a hall coordinator, bar staff,and all the other “must haves” of a beautiful wedding.

Mistake is such an ugly word, especially when you’re planning the most important day of your life. But almost every bride and groom has that one “thing” they wish they’d done differently during their wedding planning (note: we’re talking wedding planning, not wedding day). Here are some of the most common wedding planning mistakes that can negatively impact both the planning and the big day, and how to avoid them.

Not asking the right questions

The mistake: Jumping in with both feet into wedding planning can seem like a good idea at the time, but can lead to some serious backtracking and regrets.

The mistake: Many a bride and groom has blown too much of their budget in one area, leaving them with no money at the end of the process.

How to avoid the regret: Even if you hate budgeting, a plan helps you allocate dollars where they are needed so you don’t run out of money when you need it. Talk to your fiance and family early in the process to prioritize what is important (i.e. venue but not favors, etc.) As you plan, make sure you track your wedding costs to ensure you are staying on track. Think of your wedding budgeting as a long distance race: you want to make sure that you fuel all the way to the finish line.

Waiting too long to get started

The mistake: A couple who procrastinates misses out on the quality wedding venues and vendors.

How to avoid the regret: Everyone wants to enjoy their engagement, but it pays to be proactive. Wedding vendors work on a first-come, first-pay basis and you want to get the best. As soon as you set a date (or time of year), start checking off boxes on all the important parts of your wedding: contact wedding venues, find a wedding caterer, and start asking friends and family for recommendations for entertainment and photographers. If you’re on a super time-crunch (six months or less), use these tips to plan your perfect day very, very quickly.

Taking on too many DIY projects

The mistake: Everyone wants to save money while wedding planning, but taking on too many do-it-yourself projects can suck up all your time and money.

How to avoid the regret: Be realistic about the amount of time you have to devote to do-it-yourself projects. Put the most important projects (to you and your budget) at the top of the list. Don’t be afraid to ask other family members and close friends to help (only if they ask!). Be prepared to go to plan B if you don’t have time to complete all your DIY projects.

Taking on too many wedding planning tasks

The mistake: Wedding planning can be an overwhelming process for anyone.

The mistake: There’s so much to do, so many tasks to check off, that the bride and groom doesn’t remember a single moment—much less enjoy wedding planning or their special day.

How to avoid the regret: It’s easy to get so involved in making sure that every detail is so “just right” that you feel like it flies by and you don’t get the chance to take it all in. If you want to enjoy the wedding planning process and the day, plan some down time before and on the day of your wedding to relax. Use these tips so you can make sure you actually get to enjoy your wedding day, such as taking care of payments in advance and assembling an emergency kit for any ‘just in case’ scenarios.